Vacuum cleaner



Feb. 2, 1954' BEEDE 2,667,943

VACUUM CLEANER Filed NoL is, 1951 lSfiui-Sheat 1 zoo ' ml! In INVENTOR. ARNOLD H. BEEDE A T TORNEY A. H. BEEDE VACUUM CLEANER Feb. 2, 1954 Filed Nov. 13, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ARNOLD H. BEEDE ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1954 B E 2,667,943

VAQUUM CLEANER Filed NOV. 13, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ARNOLD H. BEEDE ATTORJVZ Y Patented Feb. 2, 1954 VACUUM CLEANER Arnold H. Beede, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application November 13, 1951, Serial No. 256,100

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a vacuum or suction type cleaner having automatic controls. More particularly, it embraces an automatically conditioned tank type cleaner having self-contained control mechanisms for removing accumulated dirt in packaged form readied for immediate dis posal. With this cleaner the dirt entrained in the incoming air suction stream is collected in a porous disposable bag located within the cleaner and when the collected dirt effects a'predetermined change in the operating efliciency of the cleaner, the'latter automatically shuts itself off and disposes of the dirt fllled'bag by ejecting the latter from the cleaner.

It is a major object of this invention to provide a new and improved vacuum cleaner having automatic means for disposing of dust and dirt by ejecting from the cleaner a self-sealing porous and disposable paper bag filled with dust and dirt separated from the suction air stream during normal operation of the cleaner.

It is a further and important object hereof to provide completely automatic means for effecting the operation of such a dust bag ejecting device upon the attainment of a predetermined condition or'status of operation within the cleaner.

A still further object is to provide a vacuum cleaner which has a large dust collecting capacity and which operates at a substantially uniform efficiency.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device which avoids the inconveniences present in the conventional suction type of vacuum cleaning device using the customary cloth or paper dust bag which periodically necessitates indiscriminate removal or replacement in order to maintain asemblance of efficient operation, such bag removal steps being heretofore effected manually and with considerable difficulty and discomfiture to the operator.

Still another object of this invention is to provide completely pneumatic means for initiating and effecting the automatic operation of such a dust bag ejecting device.

Still other and further objects will be disclosed hereinbelow or will become evident to those skilled in the art after a careful study of the following description together with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the complete cleaner as seen from the air intake end, together with its conventional hose, wand and nozzle;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and more clearly shown as taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the front assembly partially in section;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2 showing the front assembly partially released; and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing the-front assembly completely released, the pivoted restraining latch having been released and the dust bag ejected preparatory to falling on the floor.

It is a feature of this invention that the functioning of the cleaner in its dust disposal capacity is automatic, self-contained and after being once initiated by the establishment of predetermined changes in the operational characteristics of the air suction stream within the cleaner, the entire sequence of operations terminating in the ejection of the dust-filled bag is effected'in a series of steps. Thus, with continued dust collection during the regular operation of the cleaner, a pressure difference is gradually built up within the cleaner between the inside and the outside of the dust collecting bag. This results in' a continuous and progressively increasing force being exerted upon a pressure differential measuring diaphragm, the opposite sidesof which are subjected to the different pressures built up on the outside and inside of the dust' bag, the chamber on one side of the diaphragm being connected to an opening communicating with the clean side of the dust bag, the chamber on the other side of the diaphragm being connected to an opening communicating with the dirty side of'the dust bag. Then, upon the attainment of a predetermined value in the resultant force exerted upon the pressure difife'rential diaphragm, motion is imparted to this diaphragm and, at a predetermined distortion, the diaphragm conditions means which sets into operation'a series or sequence of steps pneumatically actuated, mechanically actuated, electrically actuated, etc., etc., which sequence when once initiated culminates finally in the ejection of the dust-filled bag from the cleaner housing and the deenergization of the motor fan unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the differential pressure diaphragm actuates means which in' turn opens a valve for admitting suction from the motor fan unit to actuate a second diaphragm which, operating through a series of linkages, (l) selectively positions a member which thereafter is in condition for subsequent operation and release of its associated ejector restraining latch; and (2) in timed relation therewith this second diaphragm substantially simultaneously, or thereafter, releases a dust conveying inlet conduit from operative communication with its dust receptacle. Then, the conduit after a predetermined angular travel to wards its fully released position in turn breaks a circuit cutting off the power supply to the motor fan unit. Continued travel of the conduit towards fully opened position then actuates mechanical means which removes a restraining member from the path of the previously selectively positioned member thereby permitting the latter to move the additional amount necessary to release the ejector restraining latch for actually releasing the bag ejector mechanism for dust bag ejection, whereupon the dust-filled bag is expelled from the cleaner housing and deposited upon the floor. During these dust conduit releasing steps, the timely breaking of the motor fan circuit results in a progressive deceleration of the motor speed and consequently the air suction stream also progressively decreases to a value at which highly effective bag ejection" is more readily attained.

Thus in accordance with this preferred embodiment of the invention, automatic dust bag ejection is effected by mechanical means, after being initiated by a tripping mechanism including a pressure differential measuring device which actuates a responsive triggering apparatus. The pressure differential measuring device .is conditioned for operation by apparatus utilizing the air pressure difference built up within the cleaner casing by dust layers collected in the dust bag. The pressure difference is established between the inside and outside of the dust collecting bag, increases progressively with continuing dust collection, and is communicated therefrom by appropriate conduit means throughout the dust collecting process.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, vacuum cleaner housing I 0, Fig. 1, is a hollow casing having a handle H.

suction or inlet portion of the casing I8 is provided with an inlet nozzle |3a and wand 13b together'with a suitable flexible hose l3, and connecting coupling 14 fitted into a movable hose coupling assembly l which is anteriorly mounted by parallel linkage including front end assembly 16. Front assembly l6, Figs. 2, 3 is hinged at I! to base casting H9 and biased to open position by spring l8; assembly 16 effects with casing H3 an air tight seal formed by rubber sealing ring member l9, cardboard disc 3!, Fig. 3, of dust bag 30 and sealing ring 22 positioned in the bag insertion opening of front body ring 20. Tubular member 2! of the hose coupling assembly I5 extends through the opening 32, Fig. 3, cut in cardboard disc 3! well into the dust collecting receptacle 30, and is sealed against disc 3| by rubber sealing ring I9. Switch button I [la on the upper front surface of cleaner housing ID provides the on-and-oif manual control for the cleaner unit.

A perforated inner housing 23 is affixed at one end to front body ring 20 and is adapted for supporting dust bag 39 (of disposable paper or,

if desired, cloth construction). This entire unit (inner housing 23, body ring 29, etc.) is slidably fitted within the open end of cleaner housing Ill and is aflixed thereto by suitable retaining screws. In the embodiment shown, the housing It is appropriately supported on a pair of runners H. The

23, reinforced by lateral stiffening plates 25 and base rods 26, is substantially rectangular in crosssection and is thus adapted to take a bag of substantially similar but slightly smaller crosssection 30, Figs. 3 and 6.

Dust bag 30, Fig. 3, comprises a dust receptacle of paper or similarly air-pervious, dust-impervious, material 33 affixed at its mouth to the rear surface of a hard paper or cardboard disc 3|, the latter being clamped between rubber sealing ring I9 of hose coupling assembly and the open end of front body ring with the aid of sealing ring 22. Cardboard disc 3| has a central opening 32 through which tubular member 2| is inserted in order to introduce the air and entrained dust directly into the interior of dust bag 30.

The entire inner surface of perforated inner housing or dust bag receiving compartment 23 is provided with apertures 21, Figs. 2 and 3, in order to permit free passage of suction air current therethrough and into chamber 40. The suction air current then passes to the rear of the vacuum cleaner housing In containing the motor fan compartment which has a conventional fan and motor unit 12, Figs. 2 and 3, mounted therein.

The dust bag ejector mechanism 5 l Figs. 2 and 3, for operating the bag ejector plate 52 includes a flat or leaf spring 53, which can be bowed or folded back on itself, Fig. 3,. into fully flexed (loaded) condition bypushing back the ejector plate 52 into its latching position. Dust bag ejector plate 52 is hingedly attached by pin 54 to the front end of flat spring 53, Figs. 3 and 6, while the rear or fixed end of fiat spring 53 is hingedly attached by pin 55, Fig. 3, to rear mounting member 55. Ejector plate 52 is slidably mounted by sleeve 52a on guide rod 57 which maintains plate 52 oriented correctly throughout its region of travel. The rear wall of dust bag receiving compartment 23 is aflixed to the rear end of perforated inner housing 23 and has a slot 6| cut therein to receive a tongue 53a. which rigidly supports rear mounting member 56 of the ejector mechanism 5|. Suitable bulkheads are provided Within the outer housing I! to adequately support and align inner housing member 23.

The ejector plate 52 of ejector mechanism 5!, is held in spring loaded position by releasable latching means which engages a depending lug 52b, Fig. 2, and shown more clearly in Fig. 3. Lug 52b is integral with plate 52 and sleeve 52c and engages spring latch 62 when plate 52 is pushed back into loaded position, see Fig. 3. Spring latch 52 is affixed at one end to latch bar 63, and moves over a limited range therewith while simultaneously travelling down the inclined edge 56b. Fig. 3, of the cam bracket portion 560 of rear mounting member 56 and towards the end of its travel, spring latch '62 slips under the bottom edge of depending lug 52b whereupon ejector mechanism 5! is released to effect dust bag ejection. Latch bar 63 is slidably mounted on guide rod 5?, at one end by sleeve 63a, Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, and at the other by apertured upwardly bent end portion 33b, Figs. 2 and 3.

The particular details of one embodiment for a restraining mechanism adapted to control the movement of latch bar 63 is clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 especially when considered together with Figs. 2 and 3. In these figures, preliminary latch bar restraining and releasing pin 79, Fig. 4, biased to latching position by the upwardly biased diaphragm of pneumatically operated means 259, projects through an opening formed in base plate shelf 80a. Pin '10 is adapted by axial movement to be'withdrawn from its latch bar restraining position (Fig. 3) to its latch bar releasing position (shown in Fig. 4.).

The above latch bar restraining and releasing pin 10 for controlling operation of the ejector mechanism is operated by cooperative association with appropriate selectively operable triggering mechanism. Thus, pin it, is adapted to be selectively moved from itsnormal position (shown in Fig.3) to its withdrawn position (shown in Fig. 4) by the downward movement of extension link -254 integral with pin If! and attached at its lower end to the diaphragm of pneumatically operated means 254). The withdrawal of pin it! releases for counterclockwise rotation pin retaining finger 90a, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, which, in the forrnof a lever arm fulcrurned on shaft 90b and afihred thereto to move as a unit functions to prevent-relatching of latch bar 63 by pin Hi. The entire pin retaining unit, 9841, etc, is spring biased. to'effect this movement by spring 9M. This selective withdrawal of pin i9 is effected by automatic triggering initiated by pneumatically actuated 'means 256 (described below and in considerably upwardly extending end of pin H biased by one end of lever 90 and is moved to releasing position (shown in Fig. 6) only by the further substantial movement stages of the opened frontend assembly [6 and/or parallel linked hose coupling assembly l which effects the actuation of lever 99 through contact with the edge of assembly is (see Figs. 5 and particularly 6) Thus the abovementioned selective positioning of pin H3 results in the superpositioning of retaining finger 900, (see view Fig. 4) above pin If! to retain the latter in releasing position out of the path of latchbar 63. In this position lever 90 will be capable when the edge of front end assembly l6 actuates the free end of lever arm 90 to effect the withdrawal of pin H and the releasing of unit 98a for further clockwise rotation, and then enable flat spring 53 to effect the additional movement of latch bar 63 necessary to cause spring latch 62 to release lug 52b and effect bag ejection, Fig. 6.

With this particular latching .device for restraining the ejector mechanism 5|, plate 52 is held in loaded position until assembly 16 and/ or assembly 55 have undergone a substantial movement. Assembly 16 is held closed by latch I09, Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6; latch ice is fulcrumed at lfll and biased to latching position by spring I62.

The cleaner housing It may be opened for inspection of the bag and its contents, however, without necessarily ejecting the dust bag by manually lifting the externally protruding end I000 of latch )0, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thereby releasing the front end assembly 16. Then even though the release of pawl 90a by lever arm 90 is subsequently effected upon the opening of front end assembly IE to its full extent, since pin H1 most likely will not have been selectively positioned (withdrawn) to latch bar releasing position, pin

.10 will still restrain latch bar 63 and hence ejector 5! from discharging the'dust bag. Normal position of pin it thus serves as an auxiliary safety latch preventingthe dust bag in either full or empty condition from being ejected upon merely manually opening the front assembly it. An-

other feature of this double latching mechanism is that with the front assembly 16 closed, spring latch 62 cannot be released but on the contrary remains in restraining position with respect to lug 52b and together with pawl 99a serves as an auxiliary safety latch preventing the release of ejector 5| and thus prevents the compression and. jamming of the bag 38 within the housing since latch bar 63 must first be released by thegwithdrawal of restraining pin 1%). This latter step necessitates the selective positioning and restraining of pin It from relatching by the triggering action (above described) which must be previously effected by suitable control mechanism, namely the actuation of thepneumatically operated device 258 (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).

It is to be noted that pneumatically operated device 25b in addition to triggering pin "1t and setting the mechanism for the subsequent release of ejector restraining latch bar 63 also releases, substantially simultaneously, the cover retaining latch Hlil by actuating arm 15, Figs. 2 and-3, formed as a part of latch release device fulcrumed at 15c, tripping the latch N10 to release member 16.

The parallel linkage of the hose coupling assembly 15 to the front ring 2!) is most clearly seen in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. There, link I I5 pivoted at I IE to base casting H9 and at H? to hose coupling assembly 15 forms one link in the parallel linkage while cover It fulcrumed at H to base casting I I9 and at I [8 to hose coupling assembly [5 forms the other link.

Button lea, Fig. 3, on the upper front surface of housing It operates a circuit make and break switch l (0, Figs. 3 and 5 of the conventional toggle type snap switch. This button lila is locked in off position when cover I6 is open by pressure exerted by a sliding mechanism. I I3 biased to the left, Fig. 3, by spring I It. Thus,.although button Illa may be used to start and stop the motor fan unit while the cover 16 remains closed, the opening of cover It with the circuit closed causes a lug I60, Fig. 5, to release slide H3 and inclined surface 96, Fig. 5, actuates a lug on switch button Illa and moves button Illa forward thereby opening the toggle switch circuit, stopping the motor fan unit and otherwise deenergiaing the unit.

The electrical and pneumatic control units are operatively interrelated. The pneumatically 0perated device 25!) consists of a large upwardly spring biased diaphragm which is operatively connected to the high suction side of the vacuum cleaner chamber 48 by conduit 255, the top chamber 226, perforations 242 in the supporting ring of valve 240, center opening 202a in casing 292, upper chamber 205 of a pressure differential measuring device (see Figs. 3 and 4) and conduit 225 to the opening 238 in the inner sealed chamber 80.

The pneumatic system includes a pressure differential measuring device (lower half of 2% below casing 202) which initiates the lifting of valve 24c and combined therewith is an auxiliary valve lifting membrane are (upper half of 290 above casing 282) which completes the opening of valve 243' and holds it open until power diaphragm 25D completes its work. The lower half of unit 2% comprises a pressure differential measuring control device, Figs. 3 and t, having a lower casing 2c! and an upper casing 202, separated by a diaphragm 203. The space in the lower casing below diaphragm 2&3 is connected by com ,muvnicating conduit 21!), Figs. 2, 3, 4, etc'., to opening :Ziii, Figs. 3, 5, 6, on the dirty or dust collecting side of the dust bag, while the space inthe 'upper casing above the diaphragm is connected by communicating conduit 2 25, Figs. 2, 3 and i, to opening 23c, Figs. 3 and 4, on the clean side of the dust bag.

The upper half of unit 238 comprises an aura iliary valve lifting device having a lower casing 202 and an upper casing 284, separated by a di..-- phragm 2'55 having a fixed periphery and a fixed perforated center portion through which valve 2% moves. Valve 2% is biased normally to closed position by a spring 2421a. Valve stem is adjustable to various heights for initiating its opening by diaphragm 293. When valve is opened it communicates high suction to the interior of pneumatically operating triggering device 256, comprising a lower casing Edi, Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, sealed by a diaphragm biased to distended or upward position by a spring andcapable of actuating tripping mechanism through link member 254. With this device, membrane 2??? (open on its lower surface to the atmosphere through opening 202?) and subject upon the opening of valve 2:30 to high suction on its upper surface) assures the completion of the operating cycle including the release of pin 70 and the cover closure member Hit by maintaining valve 24% in wide open position through a lifting action exerted on the outer edges of valve supporting ring by the upwardly distended diaphragm 2'59 (see Fig. 4).

With the opening of front end assembly it, the discharge of the bag and the slowing down of the motor fan unit, atmospheric pressure is reestablished on both sides of each of diaphragm-s 2&3 and 219 which are returned to their original positions shown in Fig. 3, under the biasing action of springs 283a and Etta, respectively.

The electrical system for energizing the motor fan unit 12, Figs. 2 and 3, and the electrical controls are of the conventional form and hence need not be specifically described.

In detail and particularly with respect to the operation of the pneumatic and electrical controls and referring especially to Figs. 3, 4, etc, where details of structure are illustrated, the force exerted on the pressure differ ntial membrane 253 progressively increases with continued dust col lection, until it attains suilicient value to open valve 240 slightly by lifting stem 24! whereupon high suction is applied to the upper surface of diaphragm 21c and permits atmospheric pressure to hold valve 249 open. This allows high suction to operate pneumatically functioning device 256 which in turn through link 25 and latch pin release arm 75, etc., selectively positions pin 76 so that pin 70 is prevented from relatching, first by pin retaining finger 88a (see Fig. 4) and then later by the under side of superpositioned latch bar 63 (see Fig. 5 where finger Sta, pin ii, etc., have been interposed to eifect a terminal latch bar restraining mechanism). The actual triggering of terminal latch bar retaining finger 98a, pin 7!, etc., is subsequently effected by the more substantial movement or more complete opening of cover [6 the edge of which finally actuates lever Gil (Fig. 6) to release pin "H. This frees latch bar 63 for further forward travel, causes latch spring 62 to ride down the inclined edge 56b of cam bracket 56c to release lug 52b holding ejection plate 52.

Substantially simultaneously with the withdrawal of pin 10, lever arm 15, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, trips cover releasing latch I00 which holds cover assembly it closed against spring tension. The release of cover It first breaks a circuit at the contact points of switch 3l 0, Fig. 3, by lug I Be releasing sliding mechanism H3 which latter is biased by spring H4- to throw switch 3H) to 011 position, Fig. 3, and especially Fig. 5, thereby deenergizing the motor fan unit. Thereafter the front cover continues its opening movement and after moving substantially mechanical triggering mechanism comprising lever 90 withdraws pin H releasing latch bar retaining finger 90a, 9011, etc. (see Fig. 6), releasing the bag ejector mechanism 5! through a previously traced series of steps, and allowing the bag ejector plate 52, Figs. 3 and 6, to push the bag forward and throw the bag and its contained dirt out of the cleaner casing.

The ejector plate 52 moves forward and outward when released until arrested by the extended length of flat spring 53, Figs. 3 and 6. The momentum of the moving dust-filled bag causes it to continue onward in its own trajectory out of the cleaner casing after which it comes to rest on the floor.

The reloading or repositioning of ejector mechanism 5| so as to ready the cleaner for the insertion of a clean bag (see Fig. 3) is effected by pushing ejector plate 52 manually all the way back into the cleaner housing until lug 52b passes over and beyond the restraining edge of spring latch 62; then, by continuing the backward travel of ejector plate 52, depending lug 52b strikes upwardly extending portion 63b of latch bar 63 and the entire latch bar 63 is moved sufiiciently far back so as to allow pin 10 (biased upwardly by the power diaphragm spring) to rise until the forward end of latch bar 63 is securely held against pin 10 (see Fig. 3).

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment herein described in considerable detail is merely an illustrative embodiment of the invention which is to be limited in scope solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for retaining said cover closed, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating member in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, pneumatic means for operating said cover releasing means, valve means for controlling said pneumatic means, a member movable in response to difference in pressure at opposite sides of said dust separating member, and means for mechanically transmitting motion of the second mentioned member to said valve to actuate the latter.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating member in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said dust separating member from said casing through said opening, releasable means for retaining said spring biased means, pneumatic means for operating said releasable spring biased means, valve means for controlling said pneumatic means, and a member movable in response to difference in pressure at opposite sides of said dust separating member, said valve being directly actuated by movement of the movable member.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for retaining said cover closed, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating container in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, spring biased means forejecting said container through said opening, releasable means for retaining said springbia'sed means, pneumatic means for operating both of said releasable means, valve means for controlling said pneumatic means, and a member movable in response to difference in pressure at opposite sides of said dust separating container, said valve being mechanically actuated by movement of the movable member.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for retaining said cover closed, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating member in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, pneumatic means for operating said cover releasing means, valve means for controlling said pneumatic means, means responsive to difierence in pressure at opposite sides of said dust separating member for initiating the opening of said valve means,and pneumatically operable means for maintaining said valve means in open position.

5, In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating member in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said dust separating member from said casing through said opening, releasable means for restraining said spring biased means, pneumatic means for operating said releasable spring biased means, valve means for controlling said pneumatic means, means responsive to difierence in pressure at opposite sides of said dust separating member for initiating the opening of said valve means, and pneumatically operable means for maintaining said valve means in open position.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for retaining said cover closed, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating container in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said container through said opening, releasable means for restraining said spring biased means, pneumatic means for operating both of said releasable means, valve means for controlling said pneumatic means, means responsive to difierence in pressure at opposite sides of said dust separating container for initiating the opening of said valve means, and pneumatically operable means for maintaining said valve means in open position.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for retaining said cover closed, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating member in said casing in the path of air fiow therethrough, pneumatic means for operating said cover releasing means, valve means for controlling said pneumatic means, a first membrane movable in response to difference in pressure at opposite sides of said dust separating member, a mechanical member for opening said valve in response to movement of said difierence pressure membrane, and a second membrane responsive to the opening of said valve for maintaining said valve in open position.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating member in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, spring biased means for ejecting said container from said casing through said opening, releasable means for restraining said spring biased means, pneumatic means for operating said releasable spring biased means, valve means'for controlling said pneumatic means, a first membr'ane movable in response to difierence in pressure at opposite-sides of said dust separating member, a mechanical member for opening said valve in response to movement of said difference pressure membrane, and a'second membrane responsive to the opening of said valve for maintaining said valve in open position. I

9. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing ha'ving an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for holding saidcover in closed position, means for pro ducing a flow of air through said casing, a dust bag in said casing in the path of said air flow for separating entrained'dirt from's'aid air, releasable means for ejecting said dust bag, mechanically operable triggering means'operable for placing the ejecting means in condition for operation pneumatically operable diaphragm meansfor operating said triggerin'g'means and said cover re leasing means, valve means for controlling said' pneumatically operable means, differential air pressure responsive means operative upon the attainment of a predetermined pressure difference between the inside and outside of the dust bag for initiating the opening of said valve means,

pneumatically operable diaphragm means for maintaining said valve means in open position, and means responsive to the substantially complete opening of said cover for releasing the means for ejecting said dust bag whenever said ejecting means has been placed in condition for operation.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for holding said cover in closed position, means for producing a fiow of air through said casing, a dust bag in said casing in the path of said air fiow for separating entrained dirt from said air, pneumatically operable diaphragm means for operating said cover releasing means, valve means for controlling said pneumatically operable means, said valve means including a casing, a partition dividing said casing into a first and a second chamber, said partition being formed with a valve port, a first diaphragm in said first chamber, means for communicating suction from the means for producing flow of air to the side of said first diaphragm adjacent said port, means for communicating suction from a point in said conduit to the opposite side of said first diaphragm, a second diaphragm in said second chamber, a valve member movable by said second diaphragm and cooperating with said valve port, a stem extending from said valve member through said port for actuation by said first diaphragm to displace said valve member from said port to thereby communicate the pressure on one side or" said first diaphragm to the proper side of said second diaphragm to cause movement of said second diaphragm in the direction which moves said valve member away from said port whereby suction is communicated to said pneumatically operable means.

11. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, means for producing fiow of air through said casing, a dust separating member in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, an inlet conduit for introducing air into said dust separating member, pneumatic means for opening said cover, valve means for controlling said pneumatic means, a

member movable in response to the difference in pressure existing between a point in said conduit and a point between said dust separating member and said means for producing flow, and means for mechanically transmitting motion of the second mentioned member to said valve to actuate the latter.

12. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a movable cover for said opening, releasable means for holding said cover in closed position, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a dust separating member in said casing in the path of air flow therethrough, an inlet conduit for introducing air into said dust separating member, pneumatically operable diaphragm means for operating said cover releasing means, valve means for controlling said pneumatically operable means, said valve means including a casing, a partition dividing said easing into a first and a second chamber, said partition being formed with a valve port, a first diaphragm in said first chamber, means for communicating suction from the means for producing flow of air tothe side of saidfirst diaphragm adjacent said port, means for communicating suction from a point in said conduit to the opposite side of said first diaphragm, a second diaphragm in said second chamber, a valve member movable by said cause movement of said second diaphragm in the direction which moves said valve member away from said port whereby suction is communicated to said pneumatically operable means. ARNOLD H. BEEDE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Beede et a1 Sept. 25, 1951 Number 

